the sixth Most Improved School Awards ceremony
1 March 2007
Deputy President
Deputy Minister of Education, Mr E Surty
MECs from the nine provinces
Director-General of Education, Mr D Hindle
Representatives of the private sector
Representatives of the different constituencies in the education sector
Representatives of the schools
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Deputy President, I am delighted that you are able to be with us at the
sixth Most Improved Schools Awards ceremony. The Department of Education is
committed to improving the quality of education in our schools and has set
targets for improvement, particularly in the results obtained in the senior
certificate examination. A necessary aspect of the school improvement campaign
is to identify areas of excellence and improvement in the system in order to
give recognition where it is deserved and to inspire and motivate others.
The key objectives of the awards are to:
* recognise and acknowledge schools that are performing well and have
achieved good results
* recognise and acknowledge schools that are showing consistent
improvement
* highlight successes and identify possible role models in a manner that will
benefit all learners.
The categories for making awards tonight are:
* improvement in home language and English second language
* excellence in mathematics
* overall consistent improvement.
In the category of home language improvement we celebrate schools that have
shown significant increases in numbers passing in each of the 11 official
languages and English second language. These 12 schools:
* have improved the numbers passing between 2005 and 2006
* have a minimum of 50 learners in grade 12 writing the particular language at
higher grade (HG) level
* achieved a minimum overall pass rate in the senior certificate of 70% in
2006.
All but one of the schools we reward tonight had an increase of more than 50
learners passing English and a second language on the HG and five of the 12
schools had more than a hundred additional learners passing HG language in 2006
in comparison to 2005.
In the category of excellence in mathematics we make awards to the 10
Dinaledi schools with the most outstanding performance in mathematics in 2006.
In this category we reward schools with the highest numbers of higher grade
mathematics passes and with high numbers of A, B and C symbols. Together these
10 Dinaledi schools produced 555 higher grade passes in 2006 and 115 A
symbols.
The third category is consistent improvement. The schools that receive
awards tonight in this category have demonstrated sustained improvement in
learner achievement in grade 12 over the period 2004, 2005 and 2006 in the
following ways:
* increase in the number of learners passing grade 12
* increase in numbers achieving exemption.
One school per province will receive an award. In addition, two schools that
achieved the highest increases in the number of endorsement passes will be
given special awards tonight.
Finally, two weeks ago I announced the establishment of the 100 club. Any
public school that produces more than 100 learners passing HG mathematics
qualifies to join this exclusive club. In 2006, 13 schools achieved this
important goal. Tonight we celebrate their achievements and representatives of
all 13 schools are here tonight. Of course there are many smaller schools that
are also producing excellent results that we should celebrate and so I am
appealing to the MECs of the provinces to identify these schools and make
appropriate awards.
Deputy President, I would like to ask you to join me in making awards to the
13 schools that joined the 100 club in 2006. First National Bank (FNB) has
generously awarded these schools R25 000 each and the Department of Education
will match this amount and urge these schools to ensure that they are in the
100 club next year.
Thanks!
Issued by: Department of Education
1 March 2007
